7 Web Development Tools You Need to be Using

Whether you are just getting started withweb development or have been programming for years, everyone can benefit from new tools and technologies. After all, what is a great artist without their tools? In this article, we are going to walk you through 7 web development tools you need to be using that are specifically designed to increase your productivity and efficiency.

As technologies, especially in relation to web and mobile development, continue to improve in both speed and capabilities, the tools for creating them must follow suit to avoid being left behind. The key is to learn how to design smarter rather than harder. We hope that with these 7 tools, you will be able to do exactly that. Let’s take a look.

1.Sketch

Sketch, Bohemian Coding’s vector UI design tool, has become a saving grace for many web developers. Building upon what most designers love about Photoshop, Sketch is quickly replacing the former design champion as web development tool of choice. Additionally, Sketch works with vectors, keeping file size down compared to Photoshop while improving functionality.

Another benefit of thisproductivity tool is that Sketch comes with a wide variety of plug-ins for almost every scenario. Whether you are working on designing a personal website or something on an enterprise level, Sketch is the UI design tool you should be using.

2.Adobe XD

While Sketch might be pulling more people away from Photoshop, Adobe is doing their part to fight back withAdobe XD. XD matches Sketch on features such as the vector formatting and ability to wireframe, while including drawing tools that feel familiar to designers used to Adobe products.

While Adobe XD isn’t quite at the place where we would recommend using it to replace Sketch, it can be very useful for quick mockups and prototyping. Although you may not actually use Adobe XD as a web development tool, it’s good to have in your arsenal for demonstrating processes and showing off features.

3.Affinity Designer

The next web development tool on our list isAffinity Designer, Serif’s alternative to Creative Suite. While some have dubbed this software the “Photoshop Killer,” Affinity is simply a tightly kept, smart design tool. In the same way that Sketch was able to build off of what Photoshop does well and make it better, Affinity takes it one step further.

For example, it might sound ridiculous, but Affinity has a 1,000,000 percent zoom feature. Compared with the 32,000 percent zoom on Photoshop, you can see how Affinity is able to compete by just taking things to the next level. Not only that, but with a much lower price point, Affinity is perfect for designers hoping to get their feet wet withweb design.

4.Vivaldi

So far, the web development tools we have looked at have been focused mainly on design and the detail that goes into creating a great web experience. However, sometimes you just need tools to help you navigate the web in a way that best suits you, which leads us to our next tool: Vivaldi.

Vivaldi is a customizable web browser, perfect for developers and designers alike. By allowing users to stack tabs, take notes, and position all of their favorite tools in one place, Vivaldi is what most designers dream about when it comes to a web browser. We highly recommend using this for your web development projects.

5.CodePen Projects

Once you get all set up with your new Vivaldi browser, why not create your next website right within your browser? WithCodePen Projects and their new integrated development environment, you can drag and drop your website files and organize your site as you build it.

Not only that, but you can actually learn from and educate others all within their site. Since CodePen was founded in 2012, they have grown to be the largest online community for testing and showcasing code snippets of HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Whether you are bouncing ideas off other programmers or working on a web development project, Codepen is a valuable asset for your toolkit.

6. Ally.js

Now, without the proper accessibility, none of these web development tools will be worth anything. This is why we decided to includeAlly.js on our list, a tool for making accessibility simple an easy.

Simply load up Ally.js and use it to help you identify elements of your site that need to be worked on. Although it may not seem important now, the overallUX design of your site can be radically transformed simply by remembering to use a tool like Ally.js.

7.Quill

Where would be without fonts? Although it might not seem important, having the right text editor tool for your web development projects is vital to the look and feel. Thankfully,Quill is here to help you out. With Quill’s powerful API, you’ll never have to look for another rich text editor again.

Quill offers themes and modules that include toolbar, keyboard, clipboard and history, but what developers seem to love most is its flexibility and extensibility. One of the best parts is that you can test out these features ahead of time to see if Quill has what you need for your project. We recommend checking out this web development tool before you end up settling on Calibri for the hundredth time.

Start designing!

Although there are still plenty of web development tools out there that you should be using, these 7 are a good starting place for maximizing your efficiency and taking your projects to the next level. As you start to use them and create your ownapp designs, you will truly begin to appreciate the power of these different tools.

Which leads us to our last piece of advice: start designing! Each of these tools is made to help you keep up with the latest technology, be it IoT, AI, or something we haven’t even heard of yet. These technological changes are going to continue and you want to be at the forefront of that movement, so again we say: start designing today!